Hi there!
Yes, there are alligators in Big Cypress National Preserve of Florida!
And in fact, because it has alligators, that is the big reason to go to Big Cypress!
Big Cypress National Preserve and the Everglades National Park are different public lands in South Florida.
To see the best of Big Cypress National Preserve, you will mainly stay near the Tamiami Trail.
To see the best of Everglades National Park, you will go off of Tamiami Trail to Shark Valley.
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Driving through Big Cypress National Preserve between Naples and Miami can give you a great chance to see alligators!
But, emphasis on CHANCE!
Alligators are wild and they do what they want when they want!
There’s no guarantee to see them.
That said…
You can drive through Big Cypress National Preserve to (probably!) see alligators!
In particular, there is one spot in Big Cypress National Preserve that it’s really easy to stop off at, and there’s a good chance that you will see alligators!
This make Big Cypress National Preserve one of the best places to see alligators in the wild in Florida!
Or rather… the best places to have the CHANCE to see alligators!
And, because alligators are wild, you want to keep them wild!
Don’t feed the alligators!
While alligator attacks do happen, alligators are generally not interested in people.
It requires everyone’s help to keep it that way.
Feeding alligators is a way for alligators to become more comfortable with humans… and to learn to approach you (and other humans) for food!
And then alligators can become even more dangerous to humans!
When you see alligators, just observe!
Try not to do anything that would cause them to change their behavior.
More below on where to see alligators in Big Cypress National Preserve!
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Things to do in Big Cypress National Preserve
There are basically 2 quick stops to make as you are driving between Naples and Miami for a chance to see alligators!
Driving this route, you will be driving through Big Cypress National Preserve on Tamiami Trail / US-41.
1. Oasis Visitor Center
The Oasis Visitor Center in Big Cypress National Preserve is right along the Tamiami Trail, which is the main road (US-41) between Naples and Miami.
This makes the Oasis Visitor Center an easy stop to make.
It can be a stop of around 10 minutes to see alligators.
How to see alligators in Big Cypress National Preserve (maybe!)
As you are driving through Big Cypress National Preserve along the Tamiami Trail, you will see a sign for the Oasis Visitor Center.
Once you park, you’ll head to the boardwalk and look in the waterway.
This is a waterway that is directly along the Tamiami Trail.
There were SO many alligators at the Oasis Visitor Center when I was there!
👇 Big Cypress National Preserve along the main road: Spot the alligator!
So I would say be sure to STOP HERE at the Oasis Visitor Center for what seems to be a very good chance to see tons of alligators!
If you are only going to make one stop as you are driving through Big Cypress National Preserve, stop at the Oasis Visitor Center!
2. HP Williams Boardwalk
👆 Big Cypress National Preserve alligators: Spot the alligator swimming!
The HP Wililams Roadside Park in Big Cypress National Preserve can also be a stop along Tamiami Trail of around 10 minutes to see alligators.
How to see alligators in Big Cypress National Preserve (maybe!)
As you are driving along the Tamiami Trail, you will see a sign for the HP Williams Roadside Park. (It might be the HP Williams Wayside or HP Williams Picnic Area too.)
You can see the parking for the HP Williams Roadside Park from the Tamiami Trail.
Once you park, you’ll walk the boardwalk and look in the waterway.
I saw alligators there!
👆 Big Cypress National Preserve alligators: Spot the alligator swimming away!
👆 Big Cypress National Preserve alligators: Spot the alligator swimming away!
You can also look further out on the other side of the river bank to see if you can get any distant views of alligators. I think I did see a far away view of an alligator.
And then you can also walk along the fence behind the bathroom to see if you can spot any alligators. I did see an alligator.
So you can make this a quick stop in Big Cypress National Preserve along Tamiami Trail just to check if there are alligators at HP Williams Roadside Park.
More (not-so-quick) things to do in Big Cypress National Preserve
If you want to dedicate more time to seeing the Big Cypress National Preserve, then you will want to do the Big Cypress National Preserve scenic loop drive!
Camping in Big Cypress National Preserve
If you’re looking for a convenient campground in Big Cypress National Preserve between Southwest Florida campgrounds and Florida Keys campgrounds, then the best campground that I was looking at was the Midway Campground. (map)
This Big Cypress National Preserve campground is open year-round for RV camping and tent camping.
You make Midway Campground reservations at recreation.gov.
I ended up not staying there since I was staying at Collier-Seminole State Park campground in Southwest Florida that was a short drive from Marco Island. This campground had easy access to Big Cypress National Preserve since it was also located off of Tamiami Trail. (map)
Aside from Midway Campground, there are many more campgrounds in Big Cypress National Preserve.
Some campgrounds in Big Cypress National Preserve are seasonal being open from August to April.
So some are open part of August, September October, November, December, January, February, March, and part of April. They are closed part of April, May, June, July, and part of August.
To the east of Big Cypress National Preserve, I camped at Collier-Seminole State Park campground. (Collier-Seminole State Park campground to Oasis Visitor Center is around a 40 minute drive. (map)
To the west, I have camped in Everglades National Park at Long Pine Key campground (1.5 hour drive / map) and “glamping” at Flamingo campground (2+ hour drive / map). Flamingo is the area to go for a chance to see crocodiles in Everglades National Park!
Where to see more big cypress trees and alligators near Big Cypress National Preserve
- Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park alligators (and big cypress trees!)
- Everglades National Park alligators
- PLUS: Everglades National Park crocodiles
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is along Tamiami Trail. You will be looking for the sign for the Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk Trail in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park.
Even if you are short on time, it is worth stopping here to see if you see alligators in the waterway that’s directly along Tamiami Trail! This is right near the parking area.
If you have more time, you can do the Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk Trail to see big cypress trees and maybe some alligators in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park!
If you are driving from Naples to Miami, you will come across this before you get to the Big Cypress National Preserve Oasis Visitor Center.
If you are driving from Miami to Naples, it will be after!
And then located on the Miami side, you have a chance to see alligators in Everglades National Park.
And that’s a bit about Big Cypress National Preserve!
More for your Florida road trip:
- Things to do in Everglades National Park
- Driving from Miami to Key West
- Things to do in Southwest Florida
- Things to do in the Florida Keys
HAPPY DRIVING THROUGH BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE!
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